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Posted on: December 15, 2017

Denver Man Guilty of Vehicular Homicide in Clear Creek Canyon

A Jefferson County jury has returned guilty verdicts in the vehicular homicide death of 85-year-old Howard Hanson. On December 14, 2017, Ah Jung, DOB; 10-15-91 was found guilty of Vehicular Homicide-DUI (F3); four counts of Vehicular Assault-DUI(F4); and DUI.

On December 13, 2015 Jung and three friends were traveling westbound on Highway 6 through Clear Creek Canyon, on their way to the casinos in Black Hawk. The men had been drinking at a friend’s house in Aurora. Jung was drunk and lost control of the car, sliding into the oncoming lane of traffic. A car traveling eastbound, and driven by 78-year-old Karen Hanson, was unable to stop and slammed into Jung’s car. Mrs. Hanson and her husband Howard Hanson were seriously injured, as were all three people in Mr. Jung’s car.

Mr. Jung’s BAC was .22, almost three times the legal limit.

Mr. Hanson suffered numerous rib fractures and a fractured sternum. He died from his injuries on January 12, 2016.

Following three days of trial the jury deliberated two hours before returning their verdicts.

Sentencing will be February 16 at 2:00 p.m.

The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual has committed a crime(s). A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6.